News

A man jailed for viewing indecent pictures of children broke a court order after his release by spending nights with a woman he had met via internet dating.

Richard Ford, 40, of New Road, Croxley Green, was jailed for four months in Sept 2009 after 1,563 indecent images of children were found on his computer.

As part of the sentence the court made various orders restricting his contact and work with children. He also had to register as a sex offender and notify any address other than his home where he
stayed for more than seven nights in any year.

Prosecutor Edward Lewis told Luton Crown Court on Tuesday: "It came to light that he began a relationship with a somewhat vulnerable mother of two who lived in Bushey.

"He stayed at her address between Dec 9 last year and January 6 this year except for six days over Christmas, and failed to notify the authorities."

Ford pleaded guilty to failing to comply with notification requirements, an offence for which the maximum sentence is five years.

David Smithet, defending said Ford had fully complied with all orders for the two years since his release from prison.

"He met a lady through on line dating and he made it clear to her that he had previous convictions and what they were about.

"Her children were never at the house when he was there and there is no suggestion that anything untoward happened," said the lawyer.

Judge Barbara Mensah jailed Ford for six months and told him he was still subject to the same restrictions on his release, and he must also have no contact with the woman.

"I take the view this is a serious breach of the order. The whole purpose of these orders is to protect the public. The consequences could have been serious," said the Judge.